EDITH FURMEDGE (Contralto)
LEONARD GOWINGS (Tenor)
/
SYDNEY BAYNES and his BAND

(From Birmingham)
The Bells
Followed by a Religious Service
Conducted by the Rev. Canon Guy Rogers, M.C.
Order of Service to celebrate the recasting of the Peal of Twelve Bells:
Hymn, 'Ring, wild bells, to the wild sky' (Songs of Praise, No. 348)
Prayers
Reading, The Call comes to Mr. Valiant for
Truth' (Bunyan's 'Pilgrim's Progress')
Bell Carol , ' In every town and village the bells do ring' (French Tune, harmonised by Martin Shaw)
Address by the Rector of Birmingham
Hymn, 'Praise the Lord, ye heavens adore Him'
(Songs of Praise, No. 420)
Prayer at Eventide Benediction
Master of the Choristers, Mr. Richard Wassell

(From Birmingham)
An Appeal on behalf of the Soldiers' Home, Whittington Heath , Lichfield, by the Rev.
E. W. BRIDGWOOD

(From Birmingham)
THE BIRMINGHAM STRING ORCHESTRA
Conducted by JOSEPH LEWIS
ELGAR'S complete command of the material he is using is nowhere more clearly manifest than in his music for strings alone. What might be in less experienced hands a restriction, seems to offer him special scope for showing how much variety he can evolve from string tone without the aid of orchestral wind instruments.
The most important, as it is among the most popular, of his early works, with the possible exception of the ' Froissart' Overture, is the String Serenade, Op. 20, in three movements. Its effectiveness owes a good deal, no doubt, to the composer's intimate knowledge of the violin, and to his youthful experience as director of a local band, modest alike in size and in attainment. There can be but few orchestras throughout the modern world of music which have not at least attempted this thoroughly wholesome and melodious music.
The violas begin the dainty, tripping, first movement with a figure which is heard in the last movement too. There are two main tunes, one which follows immedi ately after the opening. The other is in two sections, one in major and the other leaping upwards a seventh at the beginning. The movement is closed by a repetition of the first tune. The second tune is heard again in the last movement.
The second movement, a short Larghetto, is always regarded as the gem cf the Serenade. There is a brief Prelude, in which the opening phrase is effectively used on the different instruments, and then the main subject appears on the first violin— long, flowing melody. There is a brief contrasting section, and the main tune is repeated in a fuller and richer form, the short movement coming to an end with a reminder of the phrase of the Prelude.
The last movement begins with a smooth flowing tune and, as mentioned above, the opening and the second tune of the first movement are heard again.